Grassland Survey Setup

Surveys are recorded using eBird. Some important setup is required before entering the field.

Join the PROALAS project

1. Projects are only supported in version 3.1.3 or later of the eBird app. Make sure your eBird Mobile app is up-to-date before participating in Projects.

2. Go to the PROALAS project page https://ebird.org/projects/1047/about and join the project by clicking the join button

3. In your eBird app, go to Settings -> Check for updates

• To start a checklist on the eBird app, click “Choose projects” -> PROALAS-General -> “Stationary (3 band, 30m+100m)

Load Survey Points into eBird

Before going out in the field, please carefully follow these steps at home to load the survey point hotspots to your eBird account and smart phone.

1. On your computer, download the relevant file(s) below containing dummy checklists:

   1. fllt-locations.csv -  for Lindsy-parsons, Sims-Jennings, and Summerland.

   2. all-cu-locations.csv - for Cornell locations.

   3. See this Google Drive folder for all dummy checklists.

2. On your computer, import the file(s) above into eBird:

   1. Browse to https://ebird.org/import/status/all.htm (My eBird, Data Imports).

   2. Click Import a file, use the Choose File button to select the csv file downloaded above.

   3. Choose format eBird Checklist Format (Grid).

   4. Hit the green Import File button.

   5. Wait 1-30 minutes for the import to complete.
      When done, the page will show something like Import 1 - "fllt-locations.csv" - Completed.

   6. This will import a number of 0-species dummy checklists, with location names like "LP-2" or "MCGOVERN A".
      These locations are now available for use in your eBird account, but are not yet visible on your smartphone.

3. Update your smartphone (via a bit of a hack). You can skip this step if you're do not intend to use your smartphone's eBird app.

   1. Navigate to Checklists, tap the Submitted tab.

   2. You should see a list of 0-species checklists imported above, dated May 8, 2026, with location names like "LP-2" or "MCGOVERN A". If you do not see them, drag down to refresh. If you have real checklists since May 8, 2026, you may have to scroll down to find them.

   3. Tap any one of the imported 0-species checklists above to open it.

   4. Tap Edit (square with pencil in upper right corner).

   5. Tap the location name (e.g. "LP-2" or "MCGOVERN A") at the top.

   6. This should open the Choose a location screen with the new survey point locations. Once these locations appear on the map, they should be available on your phone for new checklists going forward.

   7. Cancel out of the checklist edits (hit X in the upper right, then the down arrow in the upper right).

   8. Note: you only need to do the above steps for one checklist, which should load all of the survey points onto your phone.

4. On the computer, delete the import:

   1. In your imports page from above, click Delete import.